​St. Gregory the Great puts all of these “choirs” into a single list in one of his homilies. “We know on the authority of Scripture that there are nine orders of angels, viz., Angels, Archangels, Virtues, Powers, Principalities, Dominations, Throne, Cherubim and Seraphim.”

It is believed that each of these choirs was given a specific task by God. Theologian and philosopher Dr. Peter Kreeft gives a nice summary of these different choirs and their roles in his book Angels and Demons:

The first three levels see and adore God directly:The seraphim, the highest choir, comprehend God with maximum clarity, and therefore their love flames the hottest. (“Seraphim” means “the burning ones.”) Lucifer (“Light-bearer”) was once one of them. That’s why he’s still very powerful and dangerous.The cherubim contemplate God too, but less in himself than in his providence…(“Cherubim” means “fullness of wisdom.”)The thrones contemplate God’s power and judgments. (Thrones symbolize judicial, juridical power.)The next three choirs fulfill God’s providential plans for the universe, like middle management personnel:The dominations or “dominions” (…”authority”), command the lesser angels below them.The virtues receive their orders from the dominations and “run” the universe, so to speak, especially the heavenly bodies. (“Virtue” used to mean power, might, or energy.)The powers serve the virtues by fighting against evil influences that oppose the virtues’ providential plan.The last three choirs directly order human affairs:The principalities care for earthly principalities, that is, cities and nations and kingdoms.The archangels (such as Gabriel) carry God’s important messages to man.Ordinary angels are the “guardian angels,” one for each individual.

News from the Diocese:What can I do? - Not too many years ago, when I was a parish priest, I remember listening to (young) people trying to describe the dilemmas they faced in their lives of faith. They wanted to determine what “to do” in the church (in their lives as an expression of their faith — if they did not feel called to be a priest, a deacon or a religious. That same dilemma presented itself for others who believed that the only way to serve in their parish is to become a reader at Mass or an extraordinary minister of holy Communion. These are all noble callings and vocations — but they are not the only ones available. We should not walk away in distress, thinking we are “not needed” or we “are wrong” for any reason when we are not chosen for these particular ministries. There is so much to do in the church and so many ways to offer ourselves for service......Read More

News from the Pope:Pope Francis sends money for Mexico earthquake relief- (Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has given money to the earthquake relief effort in Mexico to help survivors and victims’ families in the worst hit areas of the country. The Vatican said on Thursday that an initial contribution of 150.000 dollars would be sent through the Dicastery for Integral Human Development.....Read More​News from the Church:Bishop Barron Talks Religion at Facebook Headquarters- People need to learn how to argue better on the internet, especially about religion, Catholic media personality and Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop Robert Barron said in remarks at Facebook’s headquarters on Monday. “Seek with great patience to understand your opponent’s position,” he advised, adding that it can be “very tempting just to fire back ‘why you’re wrong.’”.....Read more

For much of the Church’s history many of the priest’s prayers at Mass were inaudible to the congregation. This wasn’t simply because they didn’t have microphones or because the priest prayed ad orientem, facing in the same direction as the congregation. It was the style of the liturgy, and you will still experience the Mass this way if you attend the Extraordinary Form.​Even today, however, in the post-conciliar Mass, during which the priest generally faces the people and many parts of the liturgy are prayed responsively or collectively, there are still some prayers of the priest that those outside the sanctuary may not be able to hear

Why is that?According to Fr. Edward McNamara, “In the ordinary form of the Roman Rite this quiet recitation is mostly reserved to the priest’s personal prayers.” Sometimes these prayers are called “‘priestly apologies,'” which are not prayers in which the celebrant excuses himself for being a priest, but in which he recognizes his intrinsic indignity and implores divine aid in order to worthily celebrate the august mysteries.”

Our Mother Mary needs your help! We are down to 2 volunteers that come every Monday at St. Paul’s from 10:30 to 1:00 pm to make rosary’s that are sent all over the world. Supplies are on hand. Please find it in your heart to help out with how ever much time you can spare!

New Lisbon Food Pantry: The Pantry is open the 1st four Thursdays of each month from 8:30 am—10:45 am., and 3rd Wed of the month from 4-5pm.We will be happy to accept donations at this time also. Clothing is not accepted. Thank you for your continued support. Please save Milk tops, box tops, soup labels and pull tabs off soup cans. These items help our school. Location is Siler Star at 201 Leer St. New Lisbon. ​

Saint MichaelSt. Michael’s Cemetery Ridgeville Mass – September 30th 2017: A Special Mass will be celebrated at St. Michael’s Cemetery Ridgeville, which is located at 21686 County Road “A” on Saturday, September 30th 2017. This cemetery was abandoned in 1878. The opening ceremony and Mass will start at 9:45 a.m. The Mass will be for all the souls of the faithful departed of St Michael’s Cemetery Ridgeville. The Celebrants will be Monsignor Gilles & Father Letona. The Ceremony will consist of some cemetery history; and a single rose placed at each grave site. Choir members from St. James, St. Michael’s and Queen of Apostles are invited. This event is open to all including Knights of Columbus Honor Guard, relatives, friends, and neighbors. Chairs will be on site; however, people are encouraged to bring their own. Shuttle service will be provided from parking lot across the road to the Mass area. In case of inclement weather the event will be at St. Mary’s Catholic Church (Queen of the Apostles Parish) on 315 West Monroe Street in Tomah. For additional information call Wenzel Felber at 372-5606 St. Michael’s Choir is inviting everyone who is interested in singing

We are currently looking for CCD teachers for the upcoming school year for children from St. Michaels and St. James parishes. If you are interested in helping in the faith formation of our children, please as soon as possible."

St. Michael’s Choir is inviting everyone who is interested in singing in our choir to come join us. We welcome all ages especially encourage young people to add your voices to ours.

Saint James​Please watch for the up coming election ballots for St. James election of PPC members at the back of each Church. All St. James Parishioners are urged to vote.

The Camp Douglas Food Pantry is in dire need of donations at this time. Your donations can be money or food. There will be a list of needs posted in the back of the church and a box in the back of the church for your convenience. Please help out. There are several drop spots here in Camp Douglas.

Dear Brother and Sisters,Our readings this week cause us to reflect on how different the Lord’s ways are from our own. “As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9)

The Psalm also praises the Lord who is gracious and good to all. (c.f. Psalm 145). In the Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of how the workers who worked all day and those who worked only a few hours received the same pay from the master of the vineyard (c.f. Matthew 20:1-16a). Jesus is teaching us that he, the Lord, is equally generous in compassion and love to those who are quick to respond to his invitation, as well as to those who are slow to hear his call. Again, His ways are not our ways. Following the words of St. Paul in our second reading (c.f. Philip- pians 1:20-27), may the Lord Jesus always be our Life and our Way!

Extras:

Thank you to all who worked for the St. Paul Fall Festival, those who donated their time, talents and treasures and those who came out to support our Parish.

Happy Feast of St. Michael and the Archangels (September 29) to all parishioners, espe- cially those of St. Michael Parish. May St. Michael be ever our strong protector in times of trial. A Requiem Mass will be held at the St. Michael cemetery in Ridgeville on September 30th at 9:45 am. The cemetery was abandoned long ago and our Knights of Columbus have been hard at work cleaning, clearing, and sprucing up the cemetery. The Mass will be offered for the repose of the souls of all buried there.

Religious Education:

All three parishes are now into full swing with Religious Education on Wednesday eve- nings. It is good to see our youth continuing their formation to be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. I thank the parents and families who bring their children.

When a husband and wife accept the responsibility of parenthood, they become partners with God in creation. Parenting includes not only the temporal well being of a child, but most especially, it calls for the spiritual nurturing of the child.

“Parents must regard their children as children of God and respect them as human per- sons. Showing themselves obedient to the will of the Father in heaven, they educate their children to fulfill God's law” Catechism of the Catholic Church 2222.

The very act of parenting, calls the parents to be the primary educators. This concept has been supported and advocated by the Church. "Parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children." (CCC # 2223) "They bear witness to this responsibil- ity first by creating a home where tenderness, forgiveness, respect, fidelity and disinter- ested service are the rule. The home is well suited for education in the virtues."

We at St. Paul, St. James, and St. Michael parishes are honored to assist you in the religious education of your children.

Dear students in CCD, I know and understand that after a long day at school and with sports or other obligations, sitting through CCD can be a little difficult, but it is my prayer and hope that you grow deeper in your faith and in your knowledge and love of Jesus, our Savior.

Thank you to all catechists, especially Sue LaBudda and Deb Granger for your work as Coordinators of Religious Education. May God reward your service.

​News from the Pope:Pope Francis urges new Bishops to cultivate discernment- (Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Thursday urged Bishops to cultivate what he called an “attitude of listening” and to avoid being “imprisoned by nostalgia.”Addressing Catholic Bishops from across the globe who have been appointed during the past year, the Pope focused on the need for discernment.......Read More​News from the Church:Pope Francis Meets Liberated Salesian Father Tom Uzhunnalil- Liberated Salesian missionary Father Tom Uzhunnalil bowed down to kiss the feet of Pope Francis at his Santa Marta residence this morning, after today’s weekly general audience. The Holy Father welcomed the Indian missionary who was freed yesterday after being held captive for 18 months by Islamist militants in Yemen........Read more

The chalice (from the Latin word calyx, or cup) is the cup into which wine and a little water are mixed. At the consecration of the Mass, the wine (that in the chalice as well as wine in a flagon to be poured into smaller chalices if the congregation will receive under both Species) becomes the Precious Blood of Jesus, in which Christ is truly present — Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity. The chalice is usually beautifully designed, and must be at least lined with precious metal as a sign of respect. In religious art, the chalice is sometimes shown at the foot of the cross, capturing the blood and water that flowed from the wound in Jesus’ side.

Over the chalice is laid the purificator, a fine white linen cloth that is used to wipe the lips and fingers of the priest and to cleanse the chalice after Communion. The sacristan — the person who cares for the sacred vessels and linens — cleans the purificator separately from other linens after Mass, because it holds traces of the Precious Blood.

The paten (from the Latin word for pan or plate) is a saucer-like circular dish of or lined with precious metal. At Mass, the priest places the large primary host on the paten, where at the consecration it (and other smaller hosts to be received by the congregation, held in a container called the ciborium) becomes the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ. Where congregants receive Communion on the tongue, a server may hold a plate (also called a paten) under the communicant’s chin, so that no consecrated host or particle falls to the ground. In preparing the vessels for Mass, the paten with the large unconsecrated host is set atop the chalice, with the purificator underneath it.​Read More

Our Mother Mary needs your help! We are down to 2 volunteers that come every Monday at St. Paul’s from 10:30 to 1:00 pm to make rosary’s that are sent all over the world. Supplies are on hand. Please find it in your heart to help out with how ever much time you can spare!

New Lisbon Food Pantry: The Pantry is open the 1st four Thursdays of each month from 8:30 am—10:45 am., and 3rd Wed of the month from 4-5pm.We will be happy to accept donations at this time also. Clothing is not accepted. Thank you for your continued support. Please save Milk tops, box tops, soup labels and pull tabs off soup cans. These items help our school. Location is Siler Star at 201 Leer St. New Lisbon. ​

Saint MichaelSt. Michael’s Cemetery Ridgeville Mass – September 30th 2017: A Special Mass will be celebrated at St. Michael’s Cemetery Ridgeville, which is located at 21686 County Road “A” on Saturday, September 30th 2017. This cemetery was abandoned in 1878. The opening ceremony and Mass will start at 9:45 a.m. The Mass will be for all the souls of the faithful departed of St Michael’s Cemetery Ridgeville. The Celebrants will be Monsignor Gilles & Father Letona. The Ceremony will consist of some cemetery history; and a single rose placed at each grave site. Choir members from St. James, St. Michael’s and Queen of Apostles are invited. This event is open to all including Knights of Columbus Honor Guard, relatives, friends, and neighbors. Chairs will be on site; however, people are encouraged to bring their own. Shuttle service will be provided from parking lot across the road to the Mass area. In case of inclement weather the event will be at St. Mary’s Catholic Church (Queen of the Apostles Parish) on 315 West Monroe Street in Tomah. For additional information call Wenzel Felber at 372-5606 St. Michael’s Choir is inviting everyone who is interested in singing

We are currently looking for CCD teachers for the upcoming school year for children from St. Michaels and St. James parishes. If you are interested in helping in the faith formation of our children, please as soon as possible."

St. Michael’s Choir is inviting everyone who is interested in singing in our choir to come join us. We welcome all ages especially encourage young people to add your voices to ours.

Saint JamesThe next PPC/Finance Council meeting will be September 21st at 6:00 pm in the Rectory.

Please watch for the up coming election ballots for St. James election of PPC members at the back of each Church. All St. James Parishioners are urged to vote.

The Camp Douglas Food Pantry is in dire need of donations at this time. Your donations can be money or food. There will be a list of needs posted in the back of the church and a box in the back of the church for your convenience. Please help out. There are several drop spots here in Camp Douglas.